Moms of Toddlers, Save Your Back!

As most of you know by now from earlier posts, I am a Mom, but my kids are way past the toddler phase...13 years old and 9 years old...wow, how the years fly...

Also, you may remember that I take care of a little one that just turned one year old this month, which puts me back into the "Toddler World" very quickly!

Mary Jane is her name and she has just gotten into the stage of wanting to walk around furniture, walk pushing her cart, and walk holding my fingers...but not ready to walk solo.

I may only be 5 foot tall, but that still means hunching over and letting this adorable one year old hold onto my fingers and walk endlessly around the house...we do laps, and my back hates me for it!

Ok, then I find this new product called Walking Wings!

You can find them at Babies R Us or purchase online. It's awesome!

This is how it works...
The child is basically placed in a very cushioned and comfortable harness that has straps above the shoulders that YOU can ADJUST to your own height and comfort.

You then hold the straps, instead of the little ones hands, and assist them in walking while YOU are in an upright position!

She loves it! Her hands are free to balance and explore and I am free from back pain!
A true win - win!

Blogging For Charity! Shrinkx Is In!

I came across this website called Hotels Combined that will donate $20 to one of the following charities if you make a mention in one of your blogs! Here is some good information as to who they are and how it works....

"Hotels Combined is a leading price comparison system used by over 25 million people every year. We aggregate and compare accommodation prices from all major sources such as Hotels.com, Travelocity.com, Priceline.com and many more. We are a free research tool helping users find the best priced accommodation option. If required, the reservation is made directly on the compared websites (Hotels.com, Travelocity.com, Priceline etc..)"

"Every time a new blogger mentions us we donate $20 to one of the selected charities (WWF, World Vision or Make-A-Wish Foundation). This way while promoting our service we help those truly in need."

To participate, and why not, just takes a couple minutes, just do the following: "Make a post or a comment about HotelsCombined.com on your blog. There are no rules or format of how to mention us – it’s absolutely up to you. We will donate funds as long as you’ve mentioned HotelsCombined.com on any page of your blog."

For final details:
check out http://www.hotelscombined.com/Charity.aspx and on your next post, blog for charity!

The Family Road Trip...A Must Try For All!

Every year we embark on a summer road trip with the kids to Vail, Colorado! The drive is a total of 17 hours. We cover 12 hours the first day and then tackle the last 5 hours on day two...piece of cake on day two!

When we first started taking this trip 5 years ago we didn't know what was in store for us. The kids were 9 and 4 1/2 and it was uncharted territory for us.

What was so shocking...and still is, is that both kids still say that this is their favorite trip of every year, and that the DRIVE is a big part of that! Wow! Who knew that could even be possible!

It doesn't hurt that we stay with the cousins when we get there, which always means HUGE fun all the time!! They just love being together.

We raft, we hike, ride bikes, rock climb...you name it and the kids are up for it. They don't really seem to care what we end up doing, just that we all do it together. Priceless memories.

And for the driving part of the adventure, we have established little traditions along the way. Traditions that though they are small, we can never deviate from now...they are in stone!

For example, on day one we make camp in Trinidad, CO, and have dinner at an Italian Restaurant that not only has fabulous food, but the entire staff sings....even the buss boys! It's awesome! On the way back home we always stop at the Big Texan in Amarillo for dinner, completely different atmosphere but another warm fuzzy because of the familiarity....another must each year.

I guess what it all comes down to is the slower pace, the long stretch of time together without interruption, and more family to greet us once we arrive.

For us, it's a little slice of heaven in a sometimes chaotic world.

And I think all of us could probably use a dose of "simpler times," a slower pace, and more importantly the opportunity to create priceless time together.

Road trips a family must. Or at least, a must try!

Girls Do Need Their Girlfriends...

I have to say, this has been my year of stepping outside my box!

So since I have a bit of momentum going, I decided to finally accept the one of many invitations and join in on a "girls trip!"

Yes, I'm over 40 now...wow, that's alot more painful in print than it is verbalizing, and I have never been on a girls trip...ever!

I just felt like it was a indulgence of some sort that I just didn't need.

I guess somehow I felt like it was taking away from my family and so I just always found a reason to gracefully say "No Thanks!"

Well this year I finally said YES!

I went with six of my friends to Cabo for a quick four day three night trip, and this is what I have discovered... We do need our girlfriends!

As wonderful as my family is...all of them, there is a different level of relaxation and conversation when it's just the girls.

I actually had time to think, reflect, plan a full day around me...WOW!

I came home feeling refreshed, a bit empowered by all the great girl talk, and grateful for my girlfriends!

So ladies, you broke me in!

Share Your Success...It Inspires Us!

I always include a card when I ship a Shrinkx Belt that requests that you share your success with us.

And although your comments to me personally via email have been wonderful, those are private and I can't share them.

So this is a shout out to all you Shrinkx veterans and new users of the Shrinkx Belt to share your story...your journey with Shrinkx.

The stories are not only exciting to read but inspiring, and give a feeling of hope to pregnant moms-to-be.

So share your stories, your excitement, and even your measurements!

The energy is contagious and your success will inspire someone else.

Feel free to add other tips that might be helpful to new users and anything else that might have contributed to helping you feel fabulous after baby...even more fabulous than before giving your body over to pregnancy and childbirth.

The name of the game is "Lift Another Lady Up!"
Pass it on...

Pregnancy Weight Gain...Touchy Topic...

A committee of doctors from the Institute of Medicine has issued new guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy. The guidelines are "for women of all sizes, starting with a prepregnancy checkup that addresses weight, diet, and exercise..."

Ok, for me this can be a very touchy topic...

I don't believe that the old theory of "your eating for two now so pile that plate on up! " is beneficial to anyone, but more, the common sense gene steps in and says... if your hungry eat, if not, then don't!
Should you try to make good choices? Yes. Does that always happen? No.
Just do the best you can....make a true effort...that's it!

The reason I feel so strongly is that when focus on weight becomes the center of the pregnancy, it can become a very miserable 40 weeks. And some people just gain differently during pregnancy no matter what they do. Some gain alot, but don't eat alot...some don't gain much at all, and eat all day! I think the focus should more be on the quality of food that you are trying to keep in your diet during pregnancy, and then just let nature take its course.

When I was pregnant with my first child, because I'm so short, I was really worried that I would turn into a rolly polly so I excercised through my entire pregnancy....ran the morning of the day my water broke! I was determined to not gain any more then I needed to...well, I gained 35 pounds at 5 foot tall! Not terrible, but not great!

Then several years later I'm pregnant with my second child, and being that it was considered a high risk pregnancy, I could not workout much at all! Ate the exact same way as my first, very restricted on any type of exercise...gained 35 pounds!! The exact same amount as the first time around! I really believe that my body just did what it felt was best...which on the new guidelines is considered to be on the upper end of the weight gain chart...oops...

Obviously there are risks that are associated with very high weight gain during pregnancy, and I know that is the reason for the guidelines. They are there to help avoid potential problems for both Mommy and Baby.

I'm just saying...careful Doc, unless truly warranted, that is one touchy topic.

OK, I have one completely demeaning question asked of me by a female doctor that was filling in for my usual doctor when I was pregnant with my first that I have to share...She asked me "if I was a closet eater, because my husband said that I always make healthy choices, but my weight gain didn't reflect that"... I cried all the way home.
Anyone else have a similar horror story? If so, you have to share it, don't leave me hanging solo!

A Gift To Treasure

This will be a bit of a sentimental post, but it touched me so much that I couldn't not do it.

I have been so fortunate to be able to be a stay at home Mom to my kids...which I have loved and treasured.

This past year my daughters First Grade teacher had her first child in the later part of the summer and was having a true struggle with placing her in day care when the school year started. So I suggested that I would care for her full time through the school year and would be able to balance everything else out just fine. I understood her struggle.

So I cared for Mary Jane through this past school year full time, and yes it was a full load, and yes I had to stay very scheduled and structured, but what a gift she is. With all the craziness with the economy and different stresses in the world today, I can honestly say that I smiled more having her, then I every would have without her there. So basically, nurturing her, nurtured me as well.

Well, the school year ended and I will have her again this fall, but for now I only get to have her once a week to keep a bit of continuity there for this next school year...just to make the transition easier for her. But last week when I had her here for the day, there was a little box in her diaper bag beautifully wrapped from Tiffany & Co. that had my name on it. I opened the gift and it was the Tiffany Link Bracelet...just beautiful...and a note thanking me for being that link to an amazing first year for little Mary Jane.

I say, thank you Mary Jane, for all the spontaneous smiles and out loud laughter that you prompted from me....and I will treasure my gift.